Japan Oct retail sales boosted by fuel-price spike, broad trend still soft
Japan’s retail sales rose for the first time in three months in October, though less than expected, and the underlying private consumption trend pointed to persistent strains on a fragile economic recovery despite an easing of COVID-19 curbs.
Tesla to invest $188 mln to expand Shanghai factory capacity -Beijing Daily
Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) plans to invest up to 1.2 billion yuan ($187.91 million) to expand production capacity at its Shanghai factory that will allow it to employ 4,000 more people at the site, state-backed Beijing Daily newspaper reported on Friday.
Japan PM Kishida urges companies to raise wages by 3% or more
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday urged companies whose earnings have recovered to pre-pandemic levels to raise wages by 3% or more at their labour talks next spring, aiming to achieve a virtuous cycle of growth and wealth distribution.
Locked in hotels: Hong Kong’s COVID-19 rules take mental toll on Cathay pilots
One of Asia’s largest airlines, Cathay Pacific, is facing a revolt from pilots who say Hong Kong’s tough quarantine rules under its zero-COVID policies are endangering their mental health, leading to rising stress and resignations.
Apple warns Thai activists “state-sponsored attackers” may have targeted iPhones
Apple Inc issued alert messages on Wednesday to at least six activists and researchers who have been critical of Thailand’s government, warning it believed their iPhones had been targeted by “state-sponsored attackers”, according to activists and the alerts reviewed by Reuters.
Robotics maker AutoStore doubles revenue, warns of margin impact
AutoStore (AUTO.OL) faces tight supply of certain components that will impact earnings margins in the short term, the Norwegian robotics company said on Wednesday after posting a 95% surge in third-quarter revenue to $84.7 million.
EXCLUSIVE U.S. investigators question Goodyear Malaysia workers over labour practices
U.S. government investigators have interviewed workers at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co’s (GT.O) Malaysian factory about their working conditions, employees told Reuters, intensifying scrutiny of potential labour abuses by the tyre maker in the country.
KKR makes $12 billion approach to take Telecom Italia private
Telecom Italia (TIM) (TLIT.MI) has received a 10.8 billion euro ($12 billion) approach from U.S. fund KKR (KKR.N) aimed at taking Italy’s biggest phone group private, the company said on Sunday.
Analysis: Pandemic debt adds to challenge of funding world’s climate goals
Huge spending by governments kept the world economy afloat during the pandemic as officials mobilized a fiscal response not seen since World War Two to bolster household incomes and give businesses a fighting chance to survive the health crisis.
COVID-19’s epicentre again: Europe faces fresh reckoning
Europe has become the epicentre of the pandemic again, prompting some governments to consider re-imposing unpopular lockdowns in the run-up to Christmas and stirring debate over whether vaccines alone are enough to tame COVID-19.
